1. Giving Voice to a Silent Epidemic: SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Death in Baltimore City Stephanie Strauss Regenold, MD, MPH Senior Advisor Babies Born Healthy Initiative Bureau of Maternal & Child Health Baltimore City Health Department

2. Overview BCHD’s Birth Outcomes Initiative Definitions
Epidemiology, Etiology, and Risk Factors
Recommendations
Parent Education
Willinger, M., James, L.S. & Catz, C. (1991). Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): Deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Pediatric Pathology, 11(5),
These procedures help distinguish SIDS deaths from those resulting from accidents, abuse or previously undiagnosed conditions such as cardiac or metabolic disorders. Although most conditions or diseases are diagnosed by the presence of specific symptoms, SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion.
In 1991, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) established the SIDS definition. In 1993, an Interagency Panel on SIDS held a meeting to develop guidelines for death scene investigation of sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDs).
A death scene investigation is an integral part of a SIDS diagnosis to rule out accidental, environmental and unnatural causes and to provide information to researchers on risk factors for SIDS. In June 1996, the panel published a model protocol and data form for the collection of information by medical examiners, coroners, death scene investigators and police officers. These guidelines set the stage for uniform death scene investigation around the country.
Model Behavior January 2007

3. B’more for Healthy Babies: BCHD’s New Initiative
Bold new initiative by the Baltimore City Health Department & The Family League of Baltimore.
Multi-year grant from CareFirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield to improve birth outcomes in Baltimore City.
Strategic approach to affect change on all levels- policy, service, community and individual levels.

4. B’more for Healthy Babies: BCHD’s New Initiative
Our vision: All of Baltimore’s babies are born healthy weight, full term, and ready to thrive in healthy families.
Components:
Intensive efforts in high-risk neighborhoods to connect people to services.
Citywide mass media campaigns.
Policies to improve screening and education.

5. B’more for Healthy Babies: BCHD’s New Initiative
128 babies under the age of one died in Baltimore City in 2009.
Baltimore has 4th worst infant mortality rate in US:
The national rate is 6.9 deaths per 1000 live births.
Baltimore’s rate is 12.1 deaths per 1000 live births.
African American: 14.3 per 1,000
White: 7.3 per 1,000

6. B’more for Healthy Babies:
BCHD’s New Initiative
The leading causes of infant mortality in Baltimore are:
#1 Prematurity and low birth weight complications
#2 SIDS and unsafe sleep conditions
#3 Birth defects
Our First Campaign Addresses Safe Sleep.
Nationally, SIDS is the #3 killer of babies, but in Baltimore, it is the second leading cause of death for babies under the age of one. The initiative will address factors leading to the three leading causes of death.

7. Definitions: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
The sudden death of an infant younger than 1 year of age, that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including:
autopsy
death scene investigation
clinical history review
No cause of death is determined.
Manner of death is “Natural.”
Willinger, M., James, L.S. & Catz, C. (1991). Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): Deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Pediatric Pathology, 11(5),
These procedures help distinguish SIDS deaths from those resulting from accidents, abuse or previously undiagnosed conditions such as cardiac or metabolic disorders. Although most conditions or diseases are diagnosed by the presence of specific symptoms, SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion.
In 1991, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) established the SIDS definition. In 1993, an Interagency Panel on SIDS held a meeting to develop guidelines for death scene investigation of sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDs).
A death scene investigation is an integral part of a SIDS diagnosis to rule out accidental, environmental and unnatural causes and to provide information to researchers on risk factors for SIDS. In June 1996, the panel published a model protocol and data form for the collection of information by medical examiners, coroners, death scene investigators and police officers. These guidelines set the stage for uniform death scene investigation around the country.
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8. Definitions: Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID), or Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI)
No cause of death able to be determined.
Infant found in an unsafe sleeping environment:
on an adult mattress or sofa
sleeping with another adult or child
sleeping on the stomach
Inconclusive for asphyxia.
Manner of death is “Undetermined.”
Coded as SIDS for Vital Statistics.
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9. CDC.gov/SIDS/SUID, 2009

10. Case #1
A 22-year old single African American woman lived in an apartment with her three children (ages 3 months, 2 years, and 4 years). She fell asleep on the couch with her 3-month-old. When she awoke 2 hours later, the baby was unresponsive. The EMS team was unable to resuscitate the baby.
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11. SIDS Epidemiology
SIDS is the 3rd leading cause of infant mortality in the US, and the 2nd leading cause of death in Baltimore City.
It is the leading cause of postneonatal mortality nationally and locally.
Over 2,000 babies die in the US each year from SIDS.
Peak incidence occurs when a baby is between 2 and 4 months.
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12. SIDS Epidemiology: Established Risk Factors
Prematurity and/or low birth weight
African American
Native American
Male sex
Young maternal age
Late or no prenatal care
High parity
Male:Female 3:2
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13. SIDS Epidemiology: Established Risk Factors
Maternal drug use during pregnancy
Maternal smoking during pregnancy
Environmental tobacco smoke
Overheating
Bed sharing
Prone/side sleep position
Soft bedding
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14. Case #2
A 6-month-old girl was sleeping in an adult bed with her 10-year-old brother. When their mother checked in on them, the baby was not breathing and was cold and stiff to the touch. The boy’s leg was resting on top of the baby’s head. EMS was called and resuscitation efforts were started but were unsuccessful.
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15. SIDS Epidemiology: Baltimore City
Deaths per 1,000 live births
Baltimore City - BCHD analysis of data from the Maryland VSA, MD - Maryland Vital Statistics Reports, U.S. - NCHS Vital Statistics Reports
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16. SIDS Etiology: Triple Risk Model
Infant at Critical Development Period
SIDS
Environmental Factors
Genetic Predisposition
Filiano JJ and Kinney HC, Biol Neonate, 65: , 1994
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17. SIDS Etiology: Critical Development Period
Immature respiratory and autonomic nervous system
Delayed neuronal maturation
Poor sleep arousal responsiveness
Moon RY, et.al. Lancet. 2007;370: ; Moon RY, Fu LY. Pediatrics in Review. 2007;28(6).

18. SIDS Etiology: Genetic Factors
Serotonin receptor and transporter abnormalities that affect arousal response
Polymorphisms in genes that effect ANS development
Abnormalities in the Na+ and K+ channels that are associated with prolonged QT syndrome
Complement gene deletions and IL-10 gene polymorphisms
Moon RY, et.al. Lancet. 2007;370: ; Moon RY, Fu LY. Pediatrics in Review. 2007;28(6).

19. SIDS Etiology: Environmental Factors
Prone and side sleeping positions
Smoking during pregnancy
Exposure to smoking after birth
Bed sharing
Use of soft sleep surfaces (adult bed, sofas)
Presence of soft objects and loose bedding (toys, pillows, blankets and comforters)
Overheating
AAP Task Force on SIDS. Policy Statement. October 2005.

20. SIDS Etiology: Rebreathing Theory
Infants in certain sleep environments are more likely to trap exhaled CO2 around the face:
Lie prone and near-face-down/face-down
Soft bedding
Tobacco smoke exposure
Infants rebreathe exhaled CO2 : CO2 ↑ & O2 ↓.
Infants die if they cannot arouse/respond appropriately.
Kinney HC, Thach BT. NEJM 2009;361:

21. SIDS Etiology: Proposed Causal Pathway
Pregnancy related risk factors
(low birth weight, smoking)
Genetic risk factors
Vulnerable infant
(impaired autonomic regulation)
At risk age group
Don’t need all three risks factors
Vulnerable infant not just from genetic risk factors, but from pregnancy related risk factors as well.
Environmental risk factors
(sleep position, bed sharing, thermal stress, head covering, etc.)
SIDS
Mitchell EA, Acta Paediatrica, 2009

22. CFR Identified 132 infant deaths that occurred 2002-mid 2008
Unsafe sleeping environment identified in 120 (91%) stomach sleeping, bed sharing, soft bedding, smoke exposure
Categorized according to risk—this was the categorization:
Infant, SIDS, SUDI, asphyxia, R99 (unspecified); W75 (accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed)
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23. SIDS in Baltimore City: Common Risks
Stomach sleeping
Bed sharing (>75%)
Soft bedding
Smoke exposure

24. AAP Infant Sleep Recommendations
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26. Additional Safe Sleep Recommendations
No smoke exposure
No overheating
Consider a pacifier

27. Alone… Not with Mom, Dad, or anyone else.
Baby’s sleep area should be close to, but separate from, where parents sleep.
Decreased air flow

28. SIDS Risk and Infant Bed Sharing
Earlier studies showed increased risk associated primarily with bed sharing among smoking mothers.
More recently, two European studies showed increased risk for younger infants even among non-smoking mothers:
European Concerted Action on SIDS (Carpenter, 2004) – under 8 weeks
Scotland (Tappin, 2005) – under 11 weeks
Germany (Vennemann, 2005) – risk was independent of age, independent of smoking. .
England (Blair, 2009) – bed sharing on bed or couch had almost 3 times higher risk of SIDS; 10 times higher with recent drug or alcohol use .

29. SIDS Risk and Infant Bed Sharing
Other factors that increase risk:
Multiple bed sharers
Bed sharing with other children
Parent consumed alcohol or is overtired
Infant between both parents
Sleeping on sofas or couches
Returning the infant to his/her own
crib is not associated with increased risk.
No studies have ever shown a protective effect of bed sharing on SIDS.

30. Why do Parents Bed Share?
Safety
Can keep close watch on baby
Belief that “crib death” occurs in crib
Convenience
Feeding
Checking on baby
Comfort
Baby sleeps better
Mother sleeps better
Bonding
Space/availability of crib

31. Bed Sharing Has Become More Popular
Renewed popularity of breastfeeding.
Bed sharing all night long has more than doubled in the past 10 years from 6% to 13% (Willinger M, 2003, National Infant Sleep Position Survey).
More recent study: 1/3 bed share in first 3 months, 27% at 12 months (Hauck F, 2009, Infant Feeding Practices Study II).
Higher numbers in low SES, certain ethnic groups (African Americans, Latinos) - more than 50% may be bed sharing all night long.

32. Shhh...MyShhh...My Child Is Sleeping (in My Bed, Um, With Me)
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Published: October 23, 2007
“Ask parents if they sleep with their kids, and most will say no. But there is evidence that the prevalence of bed sharing is far greater than reported. Many parents are ''closet co-sleepers,'' fearful of disapproval if anyone finds out, notes James J. McKenna, professor of anthropology and director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame.”

33. Why is Bed Sharing Risky?
Soft bedding, pillows, comforters
No safety standards for adult beds
Overheating
Risk of entrapment
Moon RY, Fu LY. Pediatrics in Review. 2007;28(6).

34. …on the Back… Not on the stomach or side
On the back every time the baby is laid down to sleep

35. Pre-AAP recommendation Post-AAP BTS Campaign (began in 1994)
Sleep Position Source: NICHD Household Survey
SIDS Rate Source: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

36. Prone Prevalence Rates Among Black Infants, US
Racial disparities in sleeping position
National Center for Health Statistics, National Infant Sleep Position data

37. Why do parents place their babies prone?
Comfort
Baby sleeps longer, doesn’t awake easily
Flattened Skull (plagiocephaly)
Safety
Concern about choking

38. Why is Prone Sleeping Risky?
Babies sleep deeper, experience less movement, and are less arousable when prone.
Rebreathing theory: carbon dioxide gets trapped around the mouth and nose.
Risk is higher when infant is used to back sleeping.
Risk of side sleeping similar to prone.

39. Prone Sleeping and Aspiration Risk
Source: NIH/NICHD. “Infant Sleep Position and SIDS: Questions and Answers for Health Care Providers.” June 2007.
Being on the back is actually less risky for aspiration: secretions pool in the back of the throat, near the esophagus.

40. Prone Sleeping and the NICU
Premature babies are often placed prone to improve respiratory mechanics.
Parents are likely to continue this practice at home.
Teaching and modeling appropriate sleep position may not occur in the NICU.
52% of NICU nurses promoted supine sleeping at discharge
(Aris 2006)
Recommendation:
Place all premature babies supine when respiratory dynamics are stable, well before anticipated discharge.
Parents should be taught and shown to place
babies supine during sleep before discharge.
Source: Aris C, et.al. Adv Neonatal Care. 2006;6(5):
Aris C, et.al. Adv Neonatal Care. 2006;6(5):

41. …in a Crib
A crib, bassinet, or portable crib which meets safety standards
No pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, toys, bumpers

42. Why a Firm Sleep Surface?
Soft or loose bedding carries 5 times the risk of SIDS as firm bedding.
Sleeping on the stomach on soft or loose bedding carries 20 times the risk of SIDS than those infants who slept on their backs on firm bedding.
Infants should not be placed to sleep on couches, cushioned chairs, beanbag chairs, sofas, waterbeds, air mattresses, memory foam mattresses, or lamb skins.

43. Additional Recommendations: Avoid Tobacco Smoke
In utero tobacco exposure increases the risk of SIDS:
Possibly related to effect on birth weight
Prenatal tobacco exposure associated with arousal defect
Post partum exposure to tobacco smoke also increases the risk of SIDS.

44. Additional Recommendations: Avoid Overheating
Dress infant according to room temperature.
Keep temperature comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
Use sleeper or sleep sack.
If a thin blanket is used—tuck it in on 3 sides to keep at chest level or below.
Don’t over-bundle.

45. Additional Recommendations: Consider Pacifier Use While Sleeping
Recommendation added in 2005 after multiple studies showed an independent protective effect.
Possible mechanisms:
Lower arousal threshold
Airway patency
Sleep position
Specific Recommendations:
Introduce around 1 month of age or after breastfeeding is established
Use as infant is being put down to sleep
Do not force
Don’t have to reintroduce if it falls out

46. Other Considerations: “Tummy Time”
Persistent flat spots on an infant’s head, positional plagiocephaly, can be caused by repeated time in one position.
Flat spots usually disappear in the months after learning to sit up.
To help reduce flat spots:
Daily ‘Tummy Time’ while awake
and supervised.
Alternate end of crib where baby’s head is
placed to sleep, or rotate position of crib.
Limit amount of time baby spends in
car seats, carriers, etc.

47. Other Considerations: Breastfeeding
May be associated with reduced risk of SIDS:
Breastfed infants are more arousable at 2-3 months.
Some studies show protective effect, others none.
Mothers can breastfeed successfully
without bed sharing.
Moon FY, et.al. Lancet. 2007;370:

48. Other Considerations: Positioners & Monitors
Wedges, blanket rolls can be a potential suffocation risk.
Use of home monitors does not prevent SIDS:
In certain situations a home monitor may be ordered by the physician for apnea, but these monitors do not prevent SIDS.

49. Safe Sleep Education for Parents and Caregivers
MUST:
Be addressed early and often.
Help parents prepare to counter contrary advice they receive.
Help parents prepare to insist on consistent provision of a safe sleep environment when others care for the infant (grandparents, babysitters, child care providers, family members).
Be modeled by respected and credible role models.
Beyond “Back to Sleep”
Perceived parental objections, provider skepticism about the benefits of supine positioning, and lack of program policies and training opportunities are important barriers to implementation of safe sleep policies (Moon et al Pediatrics 2008)
Model Behavior January 2007

50. Gallup Poll 2006, Top List of Most Honest and Ethical Professionals
Model Behavior January 2007

51. Nurses as Role Models
Nurses can model SIDS risk-reduction techniques to ensure that families know how to reduce SIDS risk:
Nurses who placed infants to sleep on their backs during the postpartum hospital stay changed parents’ behaviors significantly (Colson, 2002)
The most critical period during which nurses can influence parents’ behavior is during the 24 to 48 hours following delivery.
Study cited above is from New Haven, Connecticut.
Colson, E.R., & Cohen, J.S. (2002). Changing nursery practice gets inner-city infants in the supine position to sleep. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 156,
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52. Knowledge vs. Practice
1999 American Academy of Pediatrics study (Peeke et el)
97% of nurses reported awareness of back sleeping recommendation
67% followed the recommendation
The majority cited “experience” or “the potential adverse consequences of the back position” as their reason for disregarding the recommendation
2004 survey (Bullock et al)
96% of nurses reported awareness of back sleeping recommendation
75% reported using either side position or a mixture of side and back positioning
Most nurses thought side sleeping was still acceptable
Nursery staff do not uniformly recommend the back sleeping position.
Peeke, K., Hershberger, C.M., Kuehn, D., & Levett, J. (1999). Infant sleep position. Nursing practice and knowledge. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 24(6),
Bullock, L.F., Mickey, K., Green, J., & Heine, A. (2004). Are nurses acting as role models for the prevention of SIDS. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing 29(3),
Even though nurses know the importance of back-only sleeping and embrace it as positive advice for parents, not all nurses practice it.
What are the challenges?
Model Behavior January 2007

53. Beyond Knowledge to Behavior Change
Our Campaign:
Beyond Knowledge to Behavior Change
Addresses issues of complacency, convenience
Three Baltimore mothers tell their own stories about safe sleep and the choices they would make if they could go back and make them again.

54. Sleep Safe Campaign: Components
Bus, radio, transit ads
Posters, door hangers, rack cards, magnets, onesies, t-shirts
News coverage on TV and radio

55. Sleep Safe Campaign: Components
Powerful video featuring real stories of the three Baltimore mothers shown at birthing hospitals, the courthouse (jury duty), home visits.
Discussion guide to help providers lead a discussion with clients before and after the video.

56. Sleep Safe Campaign: Components
Powerful video featuring real stories of the three Baltimore mothers shown at birthing hospitals, the courthouse (jury duty), home visits.
Discussion guide to help providers lead a discussion with clients before and after the video.